Package construction



Feb. 4, 1969 AYER ET AL 3,425,544

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION I Filed Oct. 14, 1965 I I 34A L 1- '1 V I K 2% I JINVENTORS F I g'fi? IT'fi/IESROP BY A 4 I )J 4 THEIR ATTORNEYS Feb. 4,1969 R. M. AYER ETAL 3,425,544

PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 14, 1965 INVENTORS RONALD M. AYER ROBERTL.WALDROP BY FIGJZ 1 THEIR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,425,544PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION Ronald M. Ayer, Chesterfield County, and Robert L.Waldrop, Bon Air, Va., assignors to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond,Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 495,841 US.Cl. 206--45.33 2 Claims Int. Cl. B65d 65/16, 85/62, /26

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a packageconstruction wherein a plurality of product-containing containers aredisposed in the open end of a tray-like member with the tray-like memberbeing subsequently disposed within a tubular film-like member that issubsequently heat shrunk about the same to compact the containers andreceptacle together and complete the package construction, thereceptacle having opposed end walls extending throughout the entireheight of the resulting package construction to provide rigidity at theopposed ends of the heat shrunk tubular member and having opposed sidewall means fully exposing the major portions of the containers withinthe receptacle means.

This invention relates to an improved package construction for productmeans or the like as well as to improved blanks for making such apackage construction or the like.

It is well known from the copending patent application Ser. No. 366,424,filed May 11, 1964, now abandoned in favor of its copending continuationapplication Ser. No. 573,749, filed Aug. 2, 1966, and assigned to thesame assignee to whom this application is assigned, that an improvedpackage construction for product means or the like can be providedwherein the product means are packaged in a transparent film-likematerial in a neat and attractive manner so that the entire packageconstruction can be utilized for display purposes without requiringremoval of the individual product means therefrom.

In such prior known package construct-ion, the product means were placedin open ended receptacle means with the product means extending abovethe side wall means of the receptacle means a substantial distance forfull exposure thereof. The filled receptacle means is received in atubular film-like member subsequently heat shrunk around the same tohold the product means and receptacle means together whereby the overallcost of such package construction and appearance made this prior knownpackage construction more desirable than other prior known packageconstructions wherein the product means are fully encased in corrugatedcontainers or the like.

However, according to the teachings of this invention, it has been foundthat the package constructions of the aforementioned copending patentapplication lacked stability at the ends thereof whereby this inventionprovides a similar type of package construction having many improvedfeatures over the aforementioned copending patent application.

In particular, the receptacle means of this invention is so constructedand arranged that the opposed end wall means thereof extend between thetop and bottom of the package construction to provide columnar supportfor the heat shrunk film-like tubular member at the opposed opened endsthereof whereby a relatively rigid package construction is providedhaving all of the advan tages of the package construction of theaforementioned copending patent application as well as additionaladvantages over the same as will be apparent hereinafter.

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Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedpackage construction or the like having one or more of the novelfeatures set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved blank forforming such a package construction or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings showing a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of an improved package constructionof this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view illustrating a blank of this invention forforming the receptacle means of the package construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates anotherembodiment of the package construction of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates the blank of thisinvention for forming the receptacle means of the package constructionof FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a top perspective view illustrating the package constructionof FIGURE 1 after the film-like member and part of the end wall meansthereof have been removed.

FIGURE 5 is a top perspective view illustrating the package constructionof FIGURE 1 after the film-like member and part of the end wall meansthereof have been removed.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 and illustrates anotherembodiment of the blank of this invention for forming the packageconstruction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a top perspective view illustrating one of the steps in themethod of forming the package construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 and illustrates another step inthe method of forming the package construction of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates anotherembodiment of the package construction of this invention.

FIGURE 10 is a top perspective view illustrating a spacer means utilizedwith the package construction of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 and illustrates anotherembodiment of a spacer means of this invention.

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates still anotherembodiment of this invention.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adaptable for providing packageconstruction for a plurality of containers or the like, it is to beunderstood that the various features of this invention can be utilizedsingly or in any combination thereof to provide package construction forother product means as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved package construction of thisinvention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 andcomprises an open ended receptacle means 21 filled with a plurality ofbottle-like containers or product means 22 respectively having bottlecaps 23 or the like at the top thereof, the product means 22 beingarranged in rows in the receptacle means 21.

The filled receptacle means 21 is disposed in a heat shrunk tubularfilm-like member 24 formed of transparent material, if desired, havingthe opposed ends 25 thereof overlapping the opposed ends 26 of thefilled receptacle means 21 and defining opposed openings 27 in thepackage construction 20.

The open ended receptacle means 21 includes a flat bottom wall means 28,opposed side wall means 29 and opposed end wall means 30 each having apair of opposed side flaps 31 extending throughout the height of therespective end wall means 30.

The opposed side wall means 29 of the open ended receptacle means 21 areso constructed and arranged that the majority of the height of theproduct means 22 extend above the same when the product means 22 isdisposed on the bottom wall means 28 whereby the product means 22 isfully visible through the transparent film-like member 24 for productappeal as well as for a savings in the cost of receptacle means 21.

The opposed end wall means 30 of the receptacle means 21 are soconstructed and arranged that the upper edges 32 are disposedsubstantially coplanar with the top portions of the caps 23 of theproduct means 22 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 and are coplanarwith :the' top edges 33 of the side flaps 31 disposed at right anglesrelative thereto.

In this manner, when the tubular film-like member 24 is heat shrunkaround the filled receptacle means 21, the side flaps 31 and end wallmeans 30 provide support at all eight corners of the packageconstruction 20 while the end wall means 30 provide vertical support atthe overlapping ends 25 of the tubular member 24 whereby a rigid packageconstruction 20 is provided having all of the advantages of the packageconstructions set forth in the aforementioned copending patentapplication while having the additional advantage of a rigid packageconstruction that can be readily stacked with other packageconstructions 20 without the adverse effect of crushing the productmeans 22.

If desired, each end wall means 30 of the receptacle means 21 can beprovided with a cutout 34 aligned with a respective opening 27 in thefilm-like material whereby the cutouts 34 can be utilized ashand-receiving openings so that a person can readily carry the packageconstruction 20 by inserting his hands in the opposed openings 34 andgrasping the upper edges 36 of the respective wall means 30 at thecutouts 34.

Therefore, it can be seen that the package construction 20 can bereadily utilized for transporting and merchandising the product means22.

While the film-like material 24 can comprise any suitable material, thefilm-like material 24 illustrated in the drawings comprises polyvinylchloride prestretched in a manner well known in the art so that the samehas a tendency to heat shrink when heated to tightly compact togetherthe product means 22 and the receptacle means 21 in the manner fully setforth in the aforementioned copending patent application.

While the receptacle means 21 of this invention can be formed of anysuitable material and in any suitable manner, the embodiment illustratedin FIGURE 1 is formed from an improved blank 37 of this inventionillustrated in FIGURE 2.

The blank 37 illustrated in FIGURE 2 comprises corrugated board means soconstructed and arranged that the flutes of the corrugated blank 37 inthe end wall means 30 are disposed vertically so as to add to thestrength of the aforementioned columnar effect of the end wall means 30and side flaps 31.

The blank 37 is suitably cut and scored to define the bottom wall means28 foldably interconnected to the opposed end wall means 30 at thetransverse score lines 38 and 39.

The opposed side wall means 29 are respectively interconnected to theside edges of the bottom wall means 28 at the score lines 40 and 41.Similarly, the side flaps 31 of the left-hand end wall means 30 inFIGURE 2 are foldably connected to the side edges of the end wall meansat score lines 42 and 43 whereas the side flaps 31 of the right-hand endwall means 30 are interconnected thereto at score lines 44 and 45.

Thus, it can be seen that the blank 37 of this invention is asubstantially rectangular sheet of material wherein the upper scorelines 42, 40 and 44 comprise a continuous score and the lowerlongitudinal scores 43, 41 and 45 comprise a continuous score line.

As previously stated, the end wall means 30 of the blank 37 can be cutaway at 34 to provide the hand hold means for the resulting packageconstruction 20.

When it is desired to erect the blank 37 into the receptacle means 21 ofthis invention, the opposed side wall means 30 are bent at right anglesrelative to the bottom wall means 28 at the fold lines 38 and 39 and theside wall means 29 are bent at right angles relative to the bottom wallmeans at the fold lines 40 and 41. Thereafter, the side flaps 31 of theend wall means 26 are folded inwardly at right angles relative to theend wall means 30 at the fold lines 42, 43 and 44, 45 to be superimposedon the outside surface of the side wall means 29 in the mannerillustrated in FIGURE 1 and are secured thereto by suitable adhesivemeans 46, FIGURE 2, to hold the blank 37 in its erected position to formthe open ended receptacle means 21 previously described. How ever, it isto be understood that the side flaps 31 could be disposed inboard of theside wall means 29 if desired and could be secured thereto by otherfastening means as desired, such as by staples or other mechanicalfastening means.

Therefore, it can be seen that the receptacle means 21 of this inventioncan be formed in a relatively simple and economical manner from theblanks 37 of this invention to provide the package constructions 20.

While the film-like material 24 can be disposed around the filledreceptacle means 21 and heat shrunk in any suitable manner to form thepackage construction 20 of this invention, one method is illustrated inFIGURES 7 and 8 wherein the prestretched and unshrunk film-like material24 comprises a sheet disposed around the filled receptacle means 21 andhas the opposed ends 46 and 47 thereof disposed in overlapping relationand heat sealed together in any suitable manner.

After the sheet of material 24 has been disposed around the filledreceptacle means 21 and has the ends 46 and 47 thereof secured togetherto form a tubular structure having the opposed ends 25 thereof extendingbeyond the end wall means 30 of the receptacle means 21, the ends 25 ofthe film-like material 24 are partially preshrunk by heating means intothe position illustrated in FIGURE 8 whereby the package construction ofFIGURE 8 is then passed through a heating tunnel or the like whereby thefilm-like material 24 is further heat shrunk to tightly compact theproduct means 22 and receptacle means 21 together with the opposed ends25 of the film-like material 24 being heat shrunk against the end wallmeans 30 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 to complete the packageconstruction 20 of this invention.

While the individual containers 22 are illustrated in FIGURE 1 asabutting each other in the receptacle means 21, it is to be understoodthat various vertical spacers of cardboard or the like can be placedbetween the longitudinal and transverse rows of product means 21 toseparate the same from each other, if desired, particularly if theproduct means 21 comprise glass containers or the like.

Another package construction of this invention is generally indicated bythe reference numeral 20A in FIG- URE 3 and parts thereof similar to thepackage construction 20 previously described are indicated by likereterence numerals followed by the reference letter A.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the package construction 20A issubstantially identical to the package construction 20 previouslydescribed except that the receptacle means 21A has top flaps 48extending from the top edges 32A of the opposed end wall means 30A overthe product means 22A as well as over the top edges 33A of the sideflaps 31A. If desired, the top flaps 48 can have their inner edges 49adapted to bisect the caps 23A of the product means 22A adjacent therespective end wall means 30A as desired. In addition, the width of thetop flaps 48 can be the same dimension as the width of the side flaps31A in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The receptacle means 21A of the package construction 20A can be formedfrom a blank 37A of this invention illustrated in FIGURE 4 and issubstantially identical to the blank 37 of FIGURE 2 whereby like partsof the blank 37A are indicated by like reference numerals followed bythe reference letter A.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4, it can be seen that the blank 37A isidentical to the blank 37 except that the blank 37A has the top flaps 48foldably connected to the outer top edges of the end wall means 30A atthe fold lines 50 and 51.

However, the blank 37A is erected to form the receptacle means 21A inthe same manner as the blank 37 previously described except that the topflaps 48 are bent at right angles relative to the end wall means 30Aover the product means 22A after the product means 22A have beendisposed in the receptacle means 21A. 'Ilhereafter, the film-likematerial 24A is disposed around the filled receptacle means 21A in themanner previously described and heat shrunk in the manner previouslydescribed to complete the package construction 20A of this invention.

Therefore, it can be seen that the top flaps 48 of the packageconstruction 20A will readily permit package constructions 20A to bedisposed in stacked relation with other package constructions 20A as thetop flaps 48 are supported vertically by the side flaps 31A.

When it is desired to open the package constructions 20 and 20A of thisinvention, the film-like material 24 or 24A is cut open with a knife orthe like and removed from the respective receptacle means 21 and 21A sothat the product means 22 and 22A can be removed therefrom.

However, if it is desired, the receptacle means 21 can be utilized tostack the product means 22 in a display set up in a market or the likeafter the film-like material 24 has been removed.

Also, such opened package construction 20 can have the upper portions ofthe side flaps 31 and end wall means 30 removed above the side wallmeans 29 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5 whereby the reducedreceptacle means 21 defines a tray-like member and can be utilized topermit stacking of the product means 22 in a display set up or the likefor subsequent merchandising of the product means 22.

If desired, the receptacle means 21 (as well as the receptacle means21A) could be provided with tear means so that the upper portions of theside flaps 31 and end wall means 30 can readily be removed therefrom toprovide the displaying and stacking structure of FIGURE 5 as desired.

For example, another blank of this invention is generally indicated bythe reference numeral 37B in FIG- URE 6 and parts thereof similar to theblank 37 of FIG- URE 2 are indicated by like reference numerals followedby the reference letter B.

The blank 37B is formed substantially identical to the blank 37previously described except that the opposed end wall means 30B and sideflaps 31B thereof are perforated by suitable die means to define tearlines 52 so that the resulting receptacle means, erected in a mannersimilar to the receptacle means 21, can have the upper portions of theend wall means 30B and side flaps 31B readily removed therefrom bytearing the resulting receptacle means at the tear lines 52 to providethe small tray effect illustnated in FIGURE 5 for the purpose previouslydescribed.

In addition, the various receptacle blank of this invention can beprovided with hand hold means in the opposed end walls thereof in themanner provided in the end wall means 30B of the blank 37B. Inparticular, the end wall means 30B of the blank 37B are suitably die cutand scored to define a pair of flaps 53 and 54 separated from each otherat their inner ends by a die cut 55 and respectively hinged to therespective end wall means 30B at score lines 56 and 57.

In this manner, the flaps 53 and 54 of the resulting receptacle meansformed from the blank 37B can be disposed coplanar with the end wallmeans 30B until it is desired to manually carry the resulting packageconstruction whereby the handler pushes inward-1y on the flaps 53 and 54with his hands to define the previously described hand receivingopenings 34 for carrying the resulting package construction.

Another package construction of this invention is generally indicated bythe reference numeral 20C in FIGURE 9 and part thereof similar to thepackage construction 20 previously described are indicated by likereference numerals followed by the reference letter C.

As illustrated in FIGURE 9, the package construction 20C has thereceptacle means 210 thereof formed in the same manner as the receptaclemeans 21A of FIGURE 3 while the product means 22C disposed thereincomprise two layers disposed in stacked relation and separated from eachother by a horizontally disposed spacer means 58.

While the spacer means 58 could comprise merely a flat sheet ofcorrugated board or the like, the spacer means 58 illustrated in FIGURES9 and 10 comprises a corrugated board or the like having a substantiallyflat rectangular bottom wall 59 integrally interconnected to side flaps60 disposed at right angles thereto so that the side flaps 60 of thespacer means 58 will be disposed inboard of the side flaps 31C of thereceptacle means 21C and extend between the opposed end wall means 30Cthereof whereby the intenmediate row of product means 220 in the toplayer thereof is fully captured by the side flaps 60 of the spacer means58 in the resulting package construction 20C to prevent the productmeans 22C from rupturing the tubular film-like material 24C.

If desired, the spacer means 58 can be so constructed and arranged thatthe bottom wall 59 thereof is exposed at the cutout means 34C in the endWall means 300 of the receptacle means 21C so that the handler can graspthe underneath surface of the spacer means 58 at the cutout means 34Awhen lifting the package construction 20C in much the same manner as thepackage construction means set forth in the aforementioned copendingpatent application.

While the spacer means 58 of the package construction 20C merely hasside flaps 60, it is to be undenstood that the spacer means could haveside flaps extending completely around the peripheral edge of the bottomwall 59 thereof.

For example, another spacer means of this invention is generallyindicated by the reference numeral 61 in FIGURE 11 and comprises asubstantially rectangular bottom wall 62 having a pair of opposed sideflaps 63 bent at right angles relative thereto and another pair ofopposed side flaps 64 bent at right angles relative thereto, the sideflaps 64 having end flaps 65 thereof adapted to be superimposed on theside flaps 63 and fastened thereto in any suitable manner.

Thus, the spacer means 61 of FIGURE 11 can be utilized in lieu of thespacer means 58 of FIGURE 10 in forming the package construction 20C ofFIGURE 9.

Another package construction of this invention is generally indicated bythe reference numeral 20D in FIGURE 12 and parts thereof similar to thepackage constructions 20 and 20A are indicated by like referencenumerals followed by the reference letter D.

As illustrated in FIGURE 12, the package construction 20D includes aplurality of receptacle means 21D each filled with product means 22D anddisposed in stacked relation wherein the tubular film-like material 24Dis heat shrunk around the filled and stacked receptacle means 21D tocomplete the package construction D in the manner previously described.

Thus, it can be seen that the aligned end wall means D of the stackedreceptacle means 21D form a continuous end wall means for the packageconstruction 20D so as to provide support at all eight corners of thepackage construction 20D for the purpose previously described.

In order to provide means for manually carrying the package construction20D of this invention, the lower receptacle means 21D can be providedwith a cutout 66 in each end wall means 30D thereof with each coutout 66extending to the top edge 67 of the end wall means 30D. In this manner,the handler can insert his hands into the cutouts 66 and lift upwardlyso that his hands will bear against the bottom surface of the top flaps48D of the lower receptacle means 21D to compact the same upwardlyagainst the bottom wall 28D of the upper receptacle means 21D to providea lifting surface for the package construction 20D.

Thus, it can be seen that in each of the package constructions of thisinvention, the filled receptacle means thereof are so constructed andarranged that the enclosed end wall means of the filled receptacle meansprovide support at all eight corners of the resulting packageconstruction and since the end wall means of the receptacle means extendthroughout the height of the package construction, columnar supporttherefor is provided where-by relatively rigid package constructions areprovided even though the major portion of the product means therein willbe fully visible for sales appeal, information and the like in themanner of the package constructions set forth in the aforementionedcopending patent application.

Accordingly, this invention not only provides improved packageconstructions having many unique and novel features, but also thisinvention provides improved blanks for such package constructions or thelike.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, open ended receptacle means filled with product meansthat comprises a plurality of aligned rows of container means eachhaving a cylindrical top wall, said receptacle means having a pair ofopposed end wall means extending throughout the height of said productmeans and having a pair of opposed side wall means exposing the majorportion of said product means, and a tubular film-like member receivingsaid filled receptacle and being heat shrunk therearound to hold saidreceptacle means and product means together, said film-like memberhaving opposed ends overlapping said end wall means and providingopposed openings in said combination at said end wall means, said endwall means providing columnar support for said tubular member, saidreceptacle means including a pair of side flaps on each end wall meanssecured respectively to said opposed side wall means, each side flaphaving a top end coplanar with the tops of said end wall meansthroughout the entire width of said side flap and having a bottom endcoplanar with the bottoms of said end wall means throughout the entirewidth of said side flaps, said receptacle means including a pair of topflaps respectively interconnected to said tops of said end wall meansand resting on said top ends of said side flaps said top flaps eachhaving a width substantially the same as the width of each side flap andhaving a free edge resting on the cylindrical top walls of an adjacentrow of container means so as to substantially bisect each cylindricaltop wall of said adjacent row of container means.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receptacle meansincludes tear means for removing upper parts of said end wall means andside flaps to define tray means containing said product means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,836,341 5/1958 Nydegger 229-35X 2,868,429 1/1959 Shanahan 22930 2,187,382 1/1950 Libbey 206- XR2,281,165 4/1942 Miller 20645.33 2,366,419 1/1945 Meller.

2,604,983 7/1952 Moore 20645.33 2,718,301 9/1955 Palmer.

2,896,781 7/1959 Demarest.

3,043,490 7/1962 Burnett 229-15 3,048,322 8/1962 Babel 22934 3,058,27310/1962 Forman et al 5330 XR 3,111,221 11/1963 Chapman et al. 20665 XRFOREIGN PATENTS 1,275,173 9/1961 France.

OTHER REFERENCES Modern Packaging Encylopedia, 1965, page 27, ShrinkableCase Wrap.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

